KitchenAid Dishwasher questions:

15 years ago

This is the final appliance purchase...I'm leaning towards a KitchenAid....

Our granite fabricator told us to "be sure and get a side cabinet mount kit when we get our new dishwasher" but the applicance salesman at Sears didn't know what that was. He said they sell a floor mount kit....

My 3 questions are,

1. Which KitchenAid model do you love?

2. Do you have any problems with venting in terms of potential harm to your cabinets?

3. How is yours mounted? (Granite Countertops.)

Thanks.......Cinda

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (10)

weissman
15 years ago
I have a KA "S" model - about five years old and it's great. It can mounted to the side cabinets without any special kit. There are instructions in the manual - you can probably read it online - basically, there are plugs on the sides of the DW that you remove, take the tabs from the top of the door, insert them on the sides and screw them in. Mine vents out the top front - no problem at all.
jennyct
15 years ago
I just got my Kitchenaid S series (with a custom cabinetry panel) installed last month. This was part of our major kitchen remodel. We have granite counter tops. I am not aware of any special installation. We definitely did not buy any side mounting kits and we bought ours from Sears too.
Related Discussions
Dishwasher: Bosch, Kitchen-Aid, or Kenmore version of these
Q
Comments (13)
I have had the issue with the damaged (thankfully returned to normal) cabinetry. My appliance dealer took back the KA after a month +/- of use based on this and let me pick anything I wanted to replace it. I picked a upper model Bosch, with the cutlery rack, and haven't regretted it one bit. This machine is quieter than the KA, I can fit more since the tines are closer together (I took my plates to the store with me before purchase to be sure they fit), and most important, it doesn't vent in to my cabinetry. I have linked my original thread on this issue, and some people say they have never had any moisture there, and these people also have their DW pulled out from the cabinetry, where I wanted a flush fit, which is what I thought you would get with a fully-integrated machine. I'm very happy with the Bosch. I was quite upset at first because I loved the KA with the exception of the vent issue, but we have all the rest of our KA appliances and we're happy with them. My best advice would be to buy from a reputable dealer who will stand by their product, and if needed, replace if you're not satisfied. Here is a prime example of why I switched. I placed this piece of paper in between the DW vent and my cabinet directly beside it on the left. This is what I got after a cycle. I think the fact that the repair technician from my appliance store who came out and said that our machine was functioning the way its supposed to and yes, indeed that IS a vent, is telling. KA customer service was not so helpful. Here is a link that might be useful: Vent issues...
...See More
New Kitchen Aid Dishwasher with Water Softener
Q
Comments (21)
I think the advice to get a whole house water softenter is "Spot on". Our 9 year old KA DW was "totalled" by our ultra hard water here in S. Calif. It looked like snow coating all the staintless inside the DW, I did clean it often with limeaway, but it still built up faster than I could clean it. The lime gets in the DW pump, in the intake valve and even coats the heating element. In fact one of my tenants called and said their DW was smoking--it was only 3 years old---maybe less. The problem was traced, by my tenant to the heating element. He cleaned all the lime off it and it's now fine---I added softwater there too! We have the softwater, just on the hot side, We use Raine Water Softner company--(A competitor to Culligan). It cost me about $35 for the installation (right next to the water heater) and it runs me about $25/month. They change the tank once/month---at 69, I don't wanna be lugging salt around, then lifting it up and pouring it in the softner---so it's well worth the $25/month to us-- (those that have been on Terra Firma as long as we have will certainly understand!!! Everything on the not water side stays spotless, Bath tub, hot side of sinks, etc etc---the cold side is still a mess!!! HTH's Gary
...See More
Questions About my Kitchen Aid Dishwasher
Q
Comments (6)
Cheryl, I purchased a suite of KitchenAid appliances...Professional Dual Fuel Range, Architect Series Refrigerator, Dishwasher, and a Microwave, and they were installed in my new kitchen the last week of December 2004. My dishwasher was top of the line at the time, Model KUDS01FLSS, and we paid more than $1000 for it. It operates quietly enough, but my dishwasher door squeaks and squeals every time it's opened and closed,and gets worse as each day passes. I called KA and they said I needed to schedule service call. It bothers me, alot,to pay for a service call on a 2 1/2 year old top of the line DW, that gets used 3-4 times a week. Debi 2006 mentioned in her post about the KitchenAid Forum, and I registered with KA and posted my problem with my DW door. I received a response from KitchenAid Ricky and I think the response may be the answer to your DW door problem. The door hinges have a nylon rope on pulleys. The pulleys and nylon rope can be seen on each side of the DW bottom front just behind the toe kick plate. You can see them easily with a flashlight, so you may want to check and see if the nylon rope has snapped. KA Ricky stated that the DW has tension springs, but the squeaky and squealing is probably coming from the nylon rope being too tight, and the rope may need to be replaced. I have checked my door and the sqeaks and squeal are coming from the tension springs, but I don't know if the nylon rope is a problem, too. You described hearing a snap, and then your DW door would not stay open half way, but would crash open. Did your DW door squeak and squeal when you opened and closed it, before you heard the snap? I wonder if there are others who have problems with their KitchenAid dishwasher doors. Linda
...See More
Inset Cabinets & KitchenAid Dishwasher
Q
Comments (11)
You can pull the cabinets away from the wall 3". That means your counter will be 27" deep rather than the standard 24" deep. It is wonderful to have deeper counters! You do not need to buy deeper base cabinetry; just pull away from the wall the standard 24" deep cabinetry by 3". Then you can place your DW as flush as you want. You will also need to have your uppers be 15" rather than the standard 12" deep. This is a huge advantage--pretty much a necessity with inset cabinets. Inset cabinets lose space due to the frame. If you have standard 12"-deep uppers, your interior space will be 10.5" or so. Go look at your dinner plates' diameter, or your glasses. I bet the plates won't fit, or just barely, and you won't be able to have glasses more than 2 rows deep. Your KD should know all this. I'd be concerned that s/he hasn't mentioned these options for inset cabinetry, but has simply told you that your KA DW won't fit. Can you find someone else? I did a search for "kithcenaid dishwasher" and "deep counters", and am linking a thread. There are more linked threads within that thread. Here is a link that might be useful: Thread about Deeper Counters
...See More
inkycrab
15 years ago
Same here, the tabs come off and attach to the cabinet sides. I have not noticed excessive steam but I don't use the heat dry option much to save electricity.
pigeen
15 years ago
My Kitchen Aid is 4 years old [KUDP01FlSS5] and if I could return it I would. Junk, Junk, Junk. Have had good luck with getting replacement parts from RepairClinic.com which you should bookmark if you buy a KitchenAid -- family and friends have had similar experiences.

Sorry to be negative, but I feel like it's my duty given my experience.
igloochic
15 years ago
I don't have model numbers, but I have the top of the line KA and the second one down, and an older model (maybe five years old) and all of them can be mounted to side cabinets. They are all fabulous...and we don't have any heat issues (we use the dry function all the time).
cooperbailey
15 years ago
I had a Superba KA for 9 years and was still working great when we did our kitchen but didnt want black. We have the new top of the line SS (fully integrated and the 3 racks) and adore it. It is about 1 1/2 years old. My parents have always had KAs. and never had to have repairs.
( there is one at work from the 80s that still works great)
Buehl
15 years ago
We have the ArchitectÂ® Series II Dishwasher with 4 Wash Cycles and 6 Wash Options (KUDS03STSS). It works OK, nothing spectacular that I've noted either way EXCEPT...if you open the door before the cycle is done steam/water runs down the cabinets on either side of the DW. Even when we wait a few seconds it happens.

Our old Maytag and even older GE DWs never did this!
debbie_2008
15 years ago
I have a kitchen aid DW...about 2 months old. I don't have the model number handy. You can read the specs on any KA DW and it will tell how you can mount it. Mine is a side mount.
amsunshine
15 years ago
I have one of the basic KA models (KUD03IT) -- it's about 1 year old and it is a wonderful dishwasher. Ditto what the others said about side mount (I've never heard of floor mounting). Mine vents out of the front, and no issues so far with that.
gassjncr_yahoo_com
13 years ago
Is there any advantage to stainless steel inside
over metal or plastic. Thank you
I have a kitchenaid now but is 20 years old and time
to get a new one

KitchenAid Dishwasher questions:

Comments (10)

weissman

jennyct

Related Discussions

inkycrab

pigeen

igloochic

cooperbailey

Buehl

debbie_2008

amsunshine

gassjncr_yahoo_com

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US